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Spiral Gingers Costus speciosus
When the weather is tropical, our equatorial plant
friends burst out with sweet florid displays.
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Can be used alone, or as part of a tropical mix, under 10'
high. Delicate crepe flowers show up to
celebrate your kids being out of school for the summer.
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C. speciosus Variegatus
Interesting form, with dependable, yet striking, colors
through variegation.
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Dracaenas Dracaena reflexa
Since we're on the subject of variegation, these two shrubby cultivars give it to you in distinctive ways.
Members of the Agave family, there are more than forty species of
dracaenas found throughout tropical Africa and Asia.
Dracaenas, in general, have a bamboo-type look (the plant marketed as
"lucky bamboo" is really a dracaena), but will not grow to
panda-sustaining massiveness. They are typically quite hardy, which
accounts for their popularity. You can usually find a dracaena to fit in
just about any spot from roof-top garden to cabinet under the kitchen sink.
Plant one in a well-drained location. While they can take a wide
variety of light conditions, they look their best in partially sunny spots,
getting up to 12 feet high after a few years.
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Honoriae |
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Song-of-India |
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Ivory Cane Palm Pinanga kuhlii
Clustering feather palm from Indonesia, with lots of good
action going on, from strikingly-hued new growth, to attractive, slender
yellow trunks, and festive seed pods. |
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The most fitting use is as an understory palm in an
established garden. Protect from cold and drying winds. |
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This is a clumping palm, so when the trunks get too tall,
you can cut them off at the base. New ones will take their place, allowing
you to easily keep it trimmed under ten feet in height. |
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Bird's Nest Anthurium Anthurium sp.
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The native territory of this big-leafed tropical baby is
the Caribbean and South America.
If you are from Virginia and miss the look of tobacco
plants, this one is for you. Don't try smoking the leaves, though; nothing
will happen.
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The seed pods look like they are visitors from another
galaxy, but fear not, they are just seed pods. |
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Windowpane Palm Beccariophoenix
madagascariensis
Rare palm from Madagascar, prized for young leaflets, which are used in
making hats, and edible palm hearts. Its status in the wild was
critical ten years ago; not sure how well it's faring nowadays. It
may be collectors like you that keep it alive for future generations to
appreciate... |
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Angel's Trumpet Brugmansia x candida Shrubby
tree to 15 feet in height. Hybrid of two plants of the genus,
one from the mountains of Ecuador, and the other from lower-lying
valleys. It is now ubiquitous throughout the tropical and
subtropical worlds, being planted just about everywhere it has a chance of
surviving. |
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It reminds you of that time you spent in
Marseille, in the south of France, in that little cottage not too far from
the coast. You were oh, so young, and full of dreams, and the
angel's trumpets were in full bloom. Their fragrance carried romance on
the gentle evening breezes.
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Tahiti Gardenia Gardenia taitensis
This tropical shrub, indigenous to the South Pacific, can be kept as a shrub
or pruned into a small tree, reaching a height of up to 20 feet tall. It
has glossy dark green leaves, and splendidly fragrant white flowers that appear
regularly throughout the year.
Plant one in a slightly shaded spot, protected from cold winds..
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The fragrance of the flowers is dependably heavenly,
especially in the evenings. We have some nice ones available now in 3-gal. and 7-gal. pots. |
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In Tahiti, this plant is called Tiare. The flowers
are used in perfumes. There is a flavor of ice cream.
The ice cream tastes like the flowers smell, not like the flowers taste
(take my word for it).
Tahiti gardenia is the national flower of Tahiti and has
its own holiday. The flowers are a very important part of daily
life. |
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Philodendrons
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Philodendron sp. 'Burle Marx' is a charming,
low-growing clumper. Very tough; does best in shadier spots.
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P. magnificum is dignified and sophisticated.
If it could, it would wear Italian suits, drive a Rolls-Royce, and eat at
the best French restaurants. |
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Philodendron wilsoni develops leaves up to 6 feet
long as it climbs up into the canopy of your palms. This one, more
than any other, will make your yard look like the set of a Tarzan movie. |
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Heliconia Heliconia caribaea Varieties. It's
so hard to keep them in stock |
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Ginger Alpinia purpurata
Left: Amazon King
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| Assorted Alocasias
At right is Alocasia plumbea, Metalica.
Below, left, Guinea Gold, about 3' high, in 7-gal.
Below right, Borneo
Giant, 6' high in 10-gal. |
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